People's Deputy of Ukraine Anatoly Gunko, who is involved in a case of bribery and fraud with the lands of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, traveled abroad during the war.
In particular, during a meeting of the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court, Gunko noted that he had repeatedly visited Vienna, where he allegedly underwent treatment and where his children lived. The People's Deputy named specific dates for his stay in the Austrian capital. At the same time, as can be seen from the results of parliamentary voting, Anatoly Gunko’s card was constantly registered in the hall.
These facts may indicate deliberate “button pushing” on the part of Gunko and another unidentified people’s deputy and are subject to criminal liability.
“During the final meeting of the HACC Appeal, People’s Deputy Anatoly Gunko spoke about how he traveled around Vienna and even named the dates of his stay in Austria,” writes Vitaly Nazarenko, an investigative journalist from the Chernihiv region. – I previously made requests to the State Border Service, but they told me that they had no right to disclose information about a statesman. It turned out that the figure himself said everything live. Having compared the dates, I saw that Gunka’s card had voted. Button coding. And for this matter there is criminal liability. We’ll see what the State Bureau of Investigation says.”
The journalist published a letter reporting the crime, which he sent to the State Bureau of Investigation.
What did Gunko say?
During a meeting in the HACC Appeals Chamber, which was broadcast live, the people's deputy involved in the bribery case admitted that he had repeatedly left the territory of Ukraine, allegedly for treatment. At the same time, as can be seen from Gunka’s testimony, he had a number of meetings abroad on private matters.
“...On May 31, 2023, I left for Poland, then Vienna, my health condition worsened and Astion Nikolai Vasilyevich was there. (2:22). During my trip, he provided me with treatment and helped me get to the doctor... I was prescribed treatment for three weeks, from June 22, 2023...”
“...On June 22 I went to Vienna for treatment.” (2:28) 28.06 I interrupted my stay in Vienna and returned to Ukraine and attended the session all days..."
People's Deputy Anatoly Gunko characterized Nikolai Astion as a “retired police general with powerful connections” who helped him resolve the affairs of deceived farmers, in particular, we were talking about an agrarian from the Chernihiv region, a deputy of the regional council, Viktor Trush.
Gunko also said that his children live permanently in Vienna.
Parliamentary “button presses”
However, something else is interesting. According to information from the official website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the card of people's deputy Anatoly Gunko was registered in the session hall all the time and sometimes even voted.
According to the journalist, these facts may indicate the conscious commission of criminal acts by Gunko and another unidentified people’s deputy, which distorts the expression of will and must be re-voted in accordance with the regulations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Under these facts and circumstances, the journalist asks the DBR to conduct an investigation and bring MP Gunka Anatoly Grigorievich and another unidentified deputy to due responsibility in accordance with Article 364-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Apparently, it is worth talking about an organized criminal group of representatives of the owners of parliamentary mandates, which operates within the walls of parliament and systematically distorts the expression of will and pushes buttons.
Let us remind you that Anatoly Gunko was exposed for taking a bribe in early August 2023. According to the investigation, Gunko, who was the head of the Temporary Investigative Commission for investigating corruption in state-owned enterprises, institutions and organizations of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, offered the businessman to receive land for cultivation in exchange for a bribe. For the provision of arable land with an area of 1,700 hectares to one of the state enterprises, the attackers demanded a bribe of $221,000. The $85,000 was to be an "advance" and was given before the land could be cultivated.
During the transfer of this amount, the people's deputy and his two accomplices were exposed "in the heat of the moment." On the same day, the people's deputy was informed of suspicion. Gunko faces up to 12 years in prison and confiscation. After the exposure, Servant of the People expelled him from the faction. In early November, the people’s deputy was released on bail, returned to parliament and joined the “Restoration of Ukraine” group (part of the banned pro-Russian Opposition for Life). Gunka is associated with the pro-Russian oligarch Viktor Polishchuk, who has family ties with the former Prime Minister and President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev.
